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CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / TIMES-SHAMROCK John Legend's signature on the top of an electric piano owned by Bethel AME church.

SCRANTON — John Legend once gave his musical talents to Bethel AME Church. Now, he has provided his signature and, with it, a chance to help the church raise some money.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has autographed the piano he used while serving as the church’s music director, a post he held for several years starting in 1995, and the congregation will discuss its options for selling or keeping the instrument at a meeting next month. Calling a sale to a collector a “realistic goal,” the Rev. Tawan Bailey, church pastor, noted the North Washington Avenue church could put the resulting income toward paying off the $50,000 it owes on its mortgage.

“We reached out to him and he responded, and we’re hoping that something comes out of this,” the Rev. Bailey said. “But if not, then it’s a great thing that the church will always have.”

The idea to have Legend sign the upright, electric piano popped into the pastor’s head after a discussion of church finances. He sought out Legend in April to gauge his interest but did not learn until June 4 — the day before the singer’s concert at Wilkes-Barre’s F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts — that he would sign it.

And first, the church had to haul the piano to the Kirby Center the day of the show.

“We made sure it was secured properly on a U-Haul, and we got it there and some of the stage hands came out and kind of real low-key took it … inside so that it was already there when he (Legend) arrived,” the Rev. Bailey said. “It was pretty smooth.”

While the Rev. Bailey and Legend’s tenures at Bethel did not overlap, they met a few times previously, and his wife, Tamiko, grew up near Legend’s family in Ohio. The pastor’s 11-year-old daughter, Kayla, and one of her friends; church treasurer Heather Bailey and her son, Justin; and a notary who approved the signature’s certificate of authenticity joined him in Wilkes-Barre that day.

“They were a mess,” the Rev. Bailey said with a laugh. “When his actual bus pulled up, they just flipped out.”

Legend chatted with them backstage, posed for photos and signed the piano.

“I guess I really never really expected him to agree to do it,” the Rev. Bailey said. “We transported the piano there, he autographed the piano and said, ‘I hope you all make some money.’”

Bethel continued to use the piano after Legend left his job there, which the Rev. Bailey pointed out may depreciate the value should the congregation vote to sell it. But raising $50,000 or more “would be awesome,” he added.

Seeking the autograph was a stretch, the Rev. Bailey said, but “it just goes to show you the dumbest question is the one that you never ask.”

“It was kind of a hustle to get things coordinated just the day before, but it was fine,” he said. “I was so grateful, and every time I have had the opportunity to speak with Johnny or to meet him, he’s been extremely down-to-earth, so I’m just grateful that he agreed to do it.”

cheaney@timesshamrock.com,

@cheaneyTT

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